Funny Games (2008)

A chilly and extraordinarily controlled treatise on film violence, Funny Games punishes the audience for its casual bloodlust by giving it all the sickening torture and mayhem it could possibly desire. Neat trick, that.

Can a movie be gripping and repellent at the same time? In Funny Games, a mockingly sadistic and terrifying watch-the-middle-class-writhe-like-stuck-pigs thriller, the director Michael Haneke puts his characters in a vise, and the audience too.

Watts, who is one of the film's executive producers, brings a taut intelligence to the proceedings, but her character, like Roth's, is more archetype than actual person.

Many American viewers may take Haneke at his word and walk out midway through this grueling ethics exam of a movie. But much as I may resent the facile polemics of Haneke's shame-the-viewer project, I have to respect the way that he nailed me, trembling, to my seat.

In the end, the difference between "Funny Games" and Hollywood schlock horror may only be a matter of breeding. Funny Games is "Saw IV" with a PhD.

Professional obligations required that I endure it, but there's no reason why you should.

Haneke’s assault on our fantasy lives is shallow, unimaginative, and glacially unengaged--a sucker punch without the redeeming passion of punk.

"I mean, what do you think? You think they stand a chance? Oh, you're on their side, aren't you? Who are you betting on, hmm?" Exactly like Michael Haneke's Funny Games (1997), Funny Games (2007) is a dark comedy that satirizes its own genre and challenges its viewer. So meta. So smart. So good.

I think what does not work here is that the family is never angry or upset or do they surrender, which i guess would work very well given contemporary people. People today are so glued to their phones and egos, I could see them sleeping through a humiliating invasion. The best part is breaking the fourth wall, and Naomi Watts' excellent performance. And the ending. There is something so terrifying about people who attack under the guise of civility. When authorities become involved they are likely to side with the aggressors, regardless of the nature of the attack. If it is in a work setting, the supervisor is likely to side with the aggressor, to discredit the victim. The only defense from the position of the victim is to never be cordial in the first place to anyone at anytime, lest the interaction be reframed to suit the attacker. I wrote a guide on how to interact safely, the only option is never to joke with people, that gives them license to claim insult. Never analyze, explain, gossip, lend, share information, avoid smokers and people with tattoos as these types are more likely to have repressed anxiety.

Impossible to like but easy to admire for its craft and extraordinary cast. Funny Games is uncomfortable and you'll probably hate it. Watts is superb though.

Yeah i know what that Haneke dude tried to do **** whatever really.Kinda boring.Mostly **** pointless.

Michael Haneke gets his point across, but has to sacrifice all semblance of entertainment to do so. It's a shame because there was a lot of talent behind this film.